WASHINGTON - The Internal Revenue Service today warned consumers about a sophisticated phone scamtargeting taxpayers, including recent immigrants, throughout the country. Victims are told they owe money to the IRS and it must be paid promptly through a pre-loaded debit card orwire transfer. If the victim refuses to cooperate, they are then threatened with arrest, deportation or suspensionof a business or driver's license. In many cases, the caller becomes hostile and insulting.

"This scam has hit taxpayers in nearly every state in the country. We want to educate taxpayers so they canhelp protect themselves. Rest assured, we do not and will not ask for credit card numbers over the phone, norrequest a pre-paid debit card or wire transfer," says IRS Acting Commissioner Danny Werfel. "If someoneunexpectedly calls claiming to be from the IRS and threatens police arrest, deportation or license revocation ifyou don't pay immediately, that is a sign that it really isn&rsq uo;t the IRS calling." Werfel noted that the first IRScontact with taxpayers on a tax issue is likely to occur via mail Other characteristics of this scam include:

Scammers use fake names and IRS badge numbers. They generally use common names and surnames toidentify themselves.

Scammers may be able to recite the last four digits of a victim's Social Security Number.

Scammers spoof the IRS toll-free number on caller ID to make it appear that it's the IRS calling.

Scammers sometimes send bogus IRS emails to some victims to support their bogus calls.

Victims hear background noise of other calls being conducted to mimic a call site.

After threatening victims with jail time or driver's license revocation, scammers hang up and otherssoon call back pretending to be from the local police or DMV, and the caller ID supports their claim.

If you get a phone call from someone claiming to be from the IRS, here's what you should do:

If you know you owe taxes or you think you might owe taxes, call the IRS at 800-829-1040 . The IRSemployees at that line can help you with a payment issue - if there really is such an issue.

If you've been targeted by this scam, you should also contact the Federal Trade Commission and usetheir "FTC Complaint Assistant " at FTC.gov. Please add "IRS Telephone Scam" to the comments ofyour complaint.

Taxpayers should be aware that there are other unrelated scams (such as a lottery sweepstakes) and solicitations(such as debt relief) that fraudulently claim to be from the IRS. The IRS encourages taxpayers to be vigilant against phone and email scams that use the IRS as a lure. The IRSdoes not initiate contact with taxpayers by email to request personalor financial information. This includes anytype of electronic communication, such as text messages and social media channels. The IRS also does not askfor PINs, passwords or similar confidential access information for credit card, bank or other financial accounts.Recipients should not open any attachments or click on any links contained in the message.Instead, forward the e-mail to phishing@irs.gov. More information on how to report phishing scams involving the IRS is available on the genuine IRS website, IRS.gov.